Gelert tent poles are rubbish - four (or is it five, I've lost count now) broken sections - so I know what I am talking about!
Mine are 11mm and I notice other makes - Vango et al - have 11mm poles too. Are Vango poles better, and can I swap broken Gelert sections with Vango ones or will it not work. Do I have to replace an entire pole at a time. Can't afford to replace all the tent's poles at once. Thanks anybody!
------------- Pally
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No reason why you wouldn't be able to replace individual sections with higher quality ones (don't know if Vango are) of the same diameter, but using stronger pole sections could put more stress on the remaining ones! Recommend Valk_scot's post of 5 August "Broken Poles...what to do"
Only an opinion of mine here, but I reckon an 11mm pole would be similar quality from all the manufacturers.
I bought some poles from 2 other manufacturers for spares for my Khyam and they all looked identical. No doubt came from the same factory perhaps? (only my opinion though!)
The only ones that would perhaps be more resilient are the ones wrapped in a sleeving to make them stronger and help prevent a broken pole tearing the nylon.
Cant remember their name at the mo, sorry.
Even so, you really would need to change all the poles to get any benefit I would think. Very costly.
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I suspect leisure tent manufacturers buy in GRP rod for poles from whoever can do a good deal, so it is likely that there will be good and bad batches regardless of the brand. The only real option I think would be to aproach one of the suppliers of extreme or expedition tents,
------------- Of all the things I have lost I miss my mind the most.
most tent pole manufacturers are fro china Nanjing xingua FRP or changzua creation composites all of the same low quality they make them for gelert and higear that i know of, what is needed is wrapped poles where they wrap the weave around the poles as to stop them splitting as mine did just recently, 4 different pole on 2 trips,not good at all, ill be looking for a better qaulity pole now.
what is needed is wrapped poles where they wrap the weave around the poles as to stop them splitting as mine did just recently, 4 different pole on 2 trips,not good at all, ill be looking for a better qaulity pole now.
Outdoor Revolution poles (Starcamper 3) are as weak as matchsticks too - they're prone to cracking just by putting them into the ring & pin, never mind standing up to the weather.
"Big" brands aren't any better - the poles on the Outlook Nevada 3 look to have a weave wrap, but closer examination shows it's just pattern printed on and not actually a strengthening weave at all. If that's not an attempt to deceive, I don't know what is. Check carefully before you buy.
Post last edited on 05/09/2009 13:16:30
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I have outwell durawrap poles on the nevada xl, and the sunvalley 8. Both have been excellent, no breakages in the 2 years of use in the nevada. one year use of the sunvalley, and we have been in some every strong winds , the nevada was in a hurricane force wind and survived , when 2 wynnster tunnel tents we had pitched exactly the smae direction etc , had several shattered poles.
So I have great faith in them .
the only trouble is, if you are planning on replacing all the poles, it will work out horrendously expensive, as they are at least £20 a pack . if you are replacing entire poles , I would go for the next size up, 12.7mm for extra strength. I think we have 12.7mm on the nevada xl and sunvalley, possibly with 11mm poles over the bedrooms at the back(not quite certain of this )
sometimes you can buy complete sets of poles on ebay, brand new, from camping shops selling off surplus .
this is what i did and got them for about £40 for a full set for the sunvalley8. you can always cut them to fit .
I didn't know you could 'upsize' the poles, I shall certainly look into that. Having said that we have been camped out in horrendous winds this weekend and the tent coped brilliantly. Helped that we were end on to the wind (or should I say gale), but there were certainly times during the night that I was sure something must give. Am still going to get new poles though. Cheers everyone.
------------- Pally
The pen is mightier than the sword - but only if the sword is very small and the pen is very sharp...
Hi ive got the same problem with my arapaho6 have replaced 5 poles in total 4 vango and 1 gelert, vango poles are fine gelert broke 1st time out in not much wind either.
Hi - quick update - I have managed to find some Gelert 11mm tent poles in a camping sale. I have bought three pole kits - thats 27 sections (yes 27!!!) for a grand total of £12! Can't believe it, really happy bunny now.
------------- Pally
The pen is mightier than the sword - but only if the sword is very small and the pen is very sharp...
Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes
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Topic: Swapping tent poles
